PMC awaits Centre's policy on higher FSI

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) development plans for the old and newly-merged city areas could go for drastic changes if the central government issues a formal directive on increasing floor space index (FSI).

Ajay Maken, Union minister of housing and urban poverty alleviation, said in New Delhi on Thursday that the central government will take up the FSI issue vigorously with the state governments and municipal corporations to ease restrictions on it and population density norms.

"Higher FSI and population density norms are environmental friendly, energy efficient and allow people to live near their workplace," Maken said, and added that higher FSI and population density norms are the order of smart cities and should be implemented.

"If the central government goes ahead with free or higher FSI concepts, cities like Pune will definitely benefit," said a PMC official. The development plan for the old and merged areas of the city will be altered as per the new norms, the official added.

With over 57.39 lakh city-dwellers, urbanisation in Pune district is among the highest in the state, shows the recently released provisional Census 2011 data. The data also shows that, in the district, 60.88 per cent people are concentrated in urban areas, up from 58.08 per cent in 2001.

"Of the total 243.84 sq km area of Pune city, about 42 per cent is used for residential purposes and 13.61 per cent for basic infrastructure and traffic. The city is spreading to nearby villages and eating into agriculture land. This has resulted in environmental degradation and has affected farming. The land is under tremendous pressure and is leading to encroachments on hilltops and slopes," observes the PMC's Environment Status Report for 2011-2012. The report also expresses concern about unavailability of affordable housing for the poor in the city.